SouthWest Judo Academy was proudly represented at the 2026 Oceania Championships, held at the MSAC Arena in Melbourne, with several members involved both on and off the mat.
The championships brought together athletes from across Oceania for three days of competition, including kata, cadet, junior, senior, mixed team, and Military & Police team events.
For SouthWest, the event featured strong representation from Arya Zale, Georgia Aiesi, and Shane Rigby, while Simon Read and Jacob Read also contributed to the coordination and delivery of the championships.
Arya Zale Wins Silver in Katame-no-kata
Arya Zale represented New Zealand in Katame-no-kata, competing alongside her kata partner at the Oceania Championships.
Arya delivered a strong performance to claim the silver medal, an excellent result on the Oceania stage and a reflection of her continued dedication to kata.
Her achievement is a proud moment for SouthWest Judo Academy and highlights the diverse pathways available within judo, including both shiai and kata competition.
Georgia Aiesi Narrowly Misses Bronze for Samoa
Georgia Aiesi represented Samoa in the Senior Women U78kg division, taking on a strong field of athletes in the senior competition.
Georgia first faced Australia’s Hannah Bradbury in the semi-final. Despite being ahead by yuko, she was held down for osaekomi inside the final 10 seconds of the match, narrowly missing a place in the final.
She then faced Ashley Suta Dit Saponia from New Caledonia in the bronze medal contest. Once again, Georgia was ahead by yuko before being submitted with around one minute remaining, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal.
Although the final result did not go her way, Georgia showed that she is highly competitive at Oceania level. Her performances demonstrated strong progress and valuable experience as she continues her development on the international stage.
Shane Rigby Wins Bronze in Military & Police Team Championships
Shane Rigby also represented SouthWest Judo Academy at the championships, competing in the Oceania Military & Police Team Championships.
Shane’s team went on to win the bronze medal, capping off a strong weekend of competition and adding another SouthWest connection to the podium.
The team format provided an exciting conclusion to the championships and was a great opportunity for Shane to compete as part of a broader Oceania event program.
SouthWest Contribution Behind the Scenes
SouthWest Judo Academy was also represented behind the scenes through Simon Read and Jacob Read.
Simon Read, Chair of Judo Australia, and Jacob Read, CEO of Judo WA, both contributed to the coordination and delivery of the championships.
The successful delivery of an event of this scale requires significant work from athletes, coaches, referees, officials, volunteers, organisers and administrators, and SouthWest was pleased to contribute to the broader judo community through both competition and event delivery.
Next Up: Mandurah Oceania Open
SouthWest Judo Academy congratulates Arya, Georgia and Shane on their performances and achievements at the 2026 Oceania Championships.
Each of them represented the club with pride and gained valuable experience on the Oceania stage.
Attention now turns to the 2026 Mandurah Oceania Open next weekend!
